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ARCHIVED - National Energy Board to Join Fracfocus.ca

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CALGARY - The National Energy Board (NEB or the Board) will soon request companies regulated under the Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act (COGOA) to publicly disclose information on the fluids used in hydraulic fracturing operations.

Today the NEB signed an agreement with the BC Oil and Gas Commission, and the US-based Ground Water Protection Council and Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission to participate in the Fracfocus.ca website.

“We understand that Canadians demand that hydraulic fracturing be done safely, responsibly and transparently,” said Gaétan Caron, the Chair and CEO of the National Energy Board. “Joining FracFocus.ca is another step in making sure Canadians have ready access to important information on the process and understand how the NEB promotes safety and environmental protection for these types of activities.”

The NEB will request regulated companies to disclose information on the hydraulic fracturing practices and fluids they use in their operations on the Fracfocus.ca website 30 days after the hydraulic fracturing operation has been completed. Under the Canada Petroleum Resources Act (CPRA), certain information is protected by privilege for up to two years. NEB-regulated companies will be asked to sign a waiver allowing disclosure of an operator’s hydraulic fracturing chemicals on the Fracfocus.ca website prior to the end of the privilege period.

The NEB’s full participation will become effective once necessary website updates have been completed in early 2014.

The NEB has regulatory responsibilities under the COGOA and certain provisions of the CPRA that include, in part, the regulation of oil and gas exploration and activities on certain frontier lands and offshore areas not covered by federal/provincial management agreements. These regulatory responsibilities are currently administered to the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Arctic offshore, Hudson Bay, West Coast offshore, Gulf of St. Lawrence, a portion of the Bay of Fundy and onshore Sable Island.

The National Energy Board is an independent federal regulator of several parts of Canada's energy industry with the safety of Canadians and protection of the environment as its top priority. Its purpose is to regulate pipelines, energy development and trade in the Canadian public interest. For more information on the NEB and its mandate, please visit www.neb-one.gc.ca.